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05-14-2024, 08:57 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Carlos MN
Posts: 1,938
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Federal Pacific main panel and circuit breakers
This kind of a FYI post.
Couple weeks ago we had a whole house generator installed and and new main electrical panel in our house. The reason for the new main electrical panel was the original owner who built the house in 77-78 used Federal Pacific main panel and breakers. We had three bids on the generator and all three electricians told us even if we don't do the generator the Federal Pacific stuff had to go. Serious issues with the breakers not tripping and catching the wires on fire. Google it its pretty scary. So today we had a state inspector in to inspect the electrical work. He also confirmed the Federal Pacific stuff is a fire waiting to happen. Again just FYI. |
Yesterday, 10:12 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Maquoketa, Ia/ Orr, Mn
Posts: 2,969
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Re: Federal Pacific main panel and circuit breakers
My first house had a FP panel and breakers. I got the same feedback when I bought the house and it got replaced in short order. Surprisingly the local hardware store still had breakers on the shelf for those panels.
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Yesterday, 01:37 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Salmon Arm BC
Posts: 144
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Re: Federal Pacific main panel and circuit breakers
We looked at a place to buy last summer built in the late 60's that had the FP setup and it was strongly recommended that it was replaced. Apparently failure rate on the breakers is in the 30% range where they don't trip.
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Yesterday, 02:49 PM | #4 |
"Tail Gate Best Seat In House"
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Nampa Idaho
Posts: 7,379
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Re: Federal Pacific main panel and circuit breakers
I am surprised that they did not have a ground wire to the ground, even the old screw in fuse boxes I replaced had that.
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Yesterday, 04:01 PM | #5 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 2,494
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Re: Federal Pacific main panel and circuit breakers
Pretty much the same info was discussed on a welding forum I often read. My childhood home built in the late 60's had FP breakers. But we dodged the aluminum wire fiasco. All the wires were copper. No longer my problem, that house was sold in the late 80's.
But a good idea to replace if you have FP breakers. |
Yesterday, 05:31 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Eastern Shore of MD
Posts: 9,899
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Re: Federal Pacific main panel and circuit breakers
I have been slowly changing out several aluminum wire circuits in my house. It was a mixture of aluminum and copper wire from the start and everything was backstabbed in the devices. I changed out all the devices when I first moved in to get rid of the backstab originals. Still have 2 rooms left with aluminum wire. Very seldom do they get used so no load on any of it. The FP panel was changed on day one with a Square D QO panel. The FP panel was actually in really good shape visually but I had already had a few stories of fires with them. The house was built in 74 I think.
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Yesterday, 08:30 PM | #7 |
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Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Carlos MN
Posts: 1,938
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Re: Federal Pacific main panel and circuit breakers
No alum wires in our house so just the main panel change out.
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Yesterday, 10:41 PM | #8 | |
Who Changed This?
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Simi Valley, CA
Posts: 10,130
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Re: Federal Pacific main panel and circuit breakers
Quote:
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